purity, nnd to encourage a personal attachment to Christ as the embodirnent of thesc.-M. Ver. 1.-Spiritual initiatives. The one stem fact facing every Israelite is God's commrind to uproot the Canaanite. There must be at least one land wholly conse- crated to Jehovah nnd freed from idolatry. The warfare is an inheritance, even as the land is. There is 11. common obligation to fulfil this task; but it is not to be done severally, at haphazard. United action being difficult on ar.count of the loss of the great captain, representative action is the next best. Now upon one tribe, and now upon another, will the honour devolve of carrying the war into the ranks of the enemy. It is a kind of conscription of the tribes, the honour of the burden being borne in turn by one for all. In this case no lot is cast. Jehovah is the disposer of the forces of his kingdom. I. THE LEADERSHIP IS MADE KNOWN THROUGH PRAYER AND INQUIRY. As yet no tribe had premier rank amongst its fellows. God must decide who shall go up first. He is the fountain of honour, and he must be approached by the wonted avenues. Accordingly, the priest or the prophet is called upon to exercise his functions. There is something very beautiful and pathetic in this united asking of Jehovah by the tribes. Where God is acknowledged as the Supreme Arbiter, harmony is certain to prevail. It is well for Christians to submit all their anxieties to their Divine Father. So we find the early disciples praying after their Master's ascension. And the Church at Antioch observed a like rule ere it sent its missionaries forth to the region beyond. Spiritual work must ever be prefaced by prayer; and although God may not declare the leaders of it by a special utterance, tokens will be given which will enable them to be discovered. 11. IT IS RENDERED OBLIGATORY BY A "CALL." We are not informed as to the precise manner in which the will of God was made known. Probably the Urim and 'fhummim were consulted. Joshua is never mentioned as doing this; like Moses, he receives the word of God directly. The leaders of Israel receive the word of God from the priest, and the response is not oracular, but clear and definite. A twofold advantage pertained to this decision. It obtained for the chosen one the recognition of his brethren, and confirmed his own faith. An articulate supernatural " call " is not always required £or undertaking God's work, but we have a right to demand of those who assume the lead in spiritual things that they shall have clear and unmis- takable proof of a vocation. And it stands to reason that one who £eels a "neces- sity laid upon him" to do certain spiritual work shall be more likely to succeed in it. Ill, THE DIVINE CHOICE IS JUSTIFIED BY THE CHARACTER AND PAST CAREER OF ITS SUBJECT. This is not to say that these furnish a reason £or it. With regard to all Divine work it may well be asked, "Who is sufficient for these things?" But frequently human insight and experience justify Divine measures, so far as they go. It was Judah who delivered Joseph from the pit. He confessed his sins (Gen. mviii. 26). Jacob intrusted Benjamin to his care, and blessed him in the words-" Thy brethren praise thee ; the sceptre shall not depart from Judah." His tribe became the most numerous and warlike (Numb. ii.) ; and of the commissioners appointed to allot the land, the representative of Judah is first mentioned (Numb. xxxiv. 19). But above all, it was Judah and Ephraim alone who furnished the spies that gave a faith- ful account of the land-Caleb and Joshua. The former still lived, chief of the tribe of Judah. Ephraim, the tribe of Joshua, being already settled, Judah's turn comes next. We see therefore that although human merit cannot be said to determine Divine appointments, the latter will often be found to run in the same line.-M.
Ver. 3.-Alliances in the holy war. The lots of Judah and Simeon were closely united. The farmer's prerogative of leading off is therefore shared with the weaker tribe, which in all things is carefully considered by its "brother." It was impossible completely to separate the interests of these two ; the understanding was honourable to both sides. I. lN SPIRITUAL UNDERTAKINGS THE GREATER SHOULD EVER CONSIDER THE LESS. It ie in this way that our Saviour's injunction, "Let him that would be chief arnon!!_· you be as him that serveth," is often best interpreted. The onu~ of b~otlierly 6 'l'HE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH. f. 1-7.
considerntion and charitable_ construction is with the stron_ger because of the ndvnntago they nlrendy po~sess. It 1s also the more to be admired in them because of the rnrity of its exercise. On this occe.sion Judah lost nothing, and Simeon secured o. powerful ally, and 11n opportunity of distinction. Besides this, the kindliest sentiments were encournged on either side. II. B, COMMENCING fN THIS SPIRIT IT rs THE MORE LIKELY THAT MORAL ELEVATION, MAGNANIMITY, AND BROTHERLY AFFECTION WILL BE PRESERVED ALL TllROU0IT, The wah·ing of penoonal precedence is not only graceful 1 it has a tendency to perpetuate it.~elf. Our future work takes its character from the first step. Ill. IT IS AN EXAMPLE TO OUR BRETHREN, AND A WITNESS BEFORE THE WORLD TO THIC UKITY OF Goo's PEOPLE. Spiritual men above-all others should.-not first nsk "Who.t is our right?" but, "Wlint is our obligation, and how can we best illustrate the spirit of the Master?'' The tone wa~ set to nll the other tribes, and jealousy either at Judah or one another checked ere 1t appeared. True unity was the etreno-th o.nd safety of Israel. '!'.ha~ the neighbou_ring nations were impressed with the spirit of brotherhood and umty m Isrnel there 1s abundant proof. They felt they were dealing not with a mere aggregate of numbers, but with a whole inspired by common senti- ment and religious enthusiasm. It is this spirit which most perfectly realises the aim of Christ's kingdom, and his prayer "that they all may be one • " 11 that they may be made perfect in~one."-M. '